Guide for fasteners

ABSTRACT

A guide for properly aligning elongated fastening means which are used to join opposed parts separated by a substantial distance in an opening. A typical application for the invented screw guide is in a lock or latch assembly where the holding screws must generally pass through a substantial distance to join and engage opposed rosettes.

[ Mar. 7, 1972 United States Patent Nolin et a1.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,500,167 7/1924 Voight2,314,489 13/1943 [54] GUIDE FOR FASTENERS Roger J. Nolin, MontereyPark; Anthony F. Brlzzi, Santa Ana, both of Calif.

[72] Inventors:

70/452 ....15l/69X 275,287 4/1883Taylor.....................................70/452 Fennema [73] Assignee:Tool Research 8: Engineering Corporation,

Beverly Hills, Calif.

Apr. 3, 1970 Primary ExaminerRobert L. Spruill AttorneySpensely, Horn &Lubitz [22] Filed:

[21] Appl. No.:

ABSTRACT A guide for properly aligning elongated fastening means whichare used to join opposed parts separated by a substantial distance in anopening. A typical application for the invented screw guide is in a lockor latch assembly where the holding screws must generally pass through asubstantial distance to i join and engage opposed rosettes.

DIG. 53; 85/50; 151/69 15 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures euros FOR FASTENERSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention The presentinvention relates generally to the field of guide members for fastenersand more specifically to screw guides for aligning screws used forfastening two opposed parts separated by a substantial distance in anopening.

2. Description of the Prior Art In applications where two opposed andseparated parts each having holes therein must be joined by a fasteningmeans engaging the holes, a great deal of unwanted delay andinefficiency is encountered in attempting to suitably align the partsand to assemble the fastening means therein.

One typical type of installation which illustrates the problems of theprior art is the assembly of a door, lock or door latch to a door.Generally, after a standard lock or latch is inserted in its properopening in a door two face plates or rosettes, each having holestherein, are positioned on either side of the door over the opening.Screws are then inserted through the holes in one face plate, throughthe lock-receiving opening in the door and engagement with the holes inthe other face plate is made. It is quite difficult and extremely timeconsuming to properly engage the two face plates because the screws tendto fall out of alignment as they pass through the distance separatingthe face plates. Although various attempts in determining hole and screwsize relationships and/or using specially fabricated face plates havebeen tried, no simple and effective solution to this problem usingstandard face plates is known. The same problem exists for many othertypes of applications where two separated parts to be joined must bejoined by a fastening member extending across a substantial distance inan opening without any suitable supports or guides.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention teaches a unique guidewhich is simple and is highly effective and allows for the simpleinstallation of separated parts that must be joined by an elongatedfastener through aligned holes in each part. The invented guide may be amolded plastic having at least one hollow elongated guide member ofsubstantially uniform wall thickness therein. The hollow elongated guideportion is sized and dimensioned so that when a fastener (e.g., screw orbolt) is inserted part of the opening in this hollow elongated guide issubstantially the same as the cross section of the fastener to be used,thus providing a tight engagement with the fastener. The guide isadapted to abut against the inner surface of one of the pans to bejoined (e.g., a rosette for a door lock). The guide may be secured tosuch part by an adhesive or by utilizing any conventional mechanicalsecuring means. The hollow elongated guide portions are disposed andaligned on the part so that one end of the openings are substantiallyadjacent with the holes in the part to be joined so that the centerlinesof the holes are substantially coincident with the centerlines of thehollow elongated guide portions of the guide member. Various schemes andtechniques for properly positioning and securing the guide member to thepart will be apparent to those skilled in the art. However, onetechnique using embossed holes and a mechanical fastener will bedescribed in detail hereinafter, by way of example. Also while theembodiments described herein are for a plurality of holes and fasteners,the invented guide may be used for single hole and single fastenerapplications.

The opening of the elongated guide portion of the invented guide memberserves to guide the screw (or other elongated fastener) inserted thereinso that irrespective of the angle the screw when it is inserted in thehole it will be properly aligned when seated with the longitudinal axisof the screw substantially coincident with the centerlines of theelongated guide portion and the holes in each of the parts to be joined(e.g., rosettes of a typical lock assembly).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 shows a front elevational viewof a typical latch installation in which the invented guide is used;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view showing how theelongated guide portion of the invented guide properly aligns and seatsa screw fastener inserted therein; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the invented fastener.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of theinvented guide is shown in FIG. 5. FIGS. 1-4 illustrate how the inventedguide may be utilized, for example, in conjunction with two rosettes ina lock assembly to secure the rosettes to a door with a minimum amountof alignment difficulties. In this chosen preferred embodiment theelongated guide portion takes a frustoconical shape. In otherembodiments the elongated guide portion could be cylindrical, forexample, or shaped to conform generally with the cross section of anysuitable fastening means.

The invented guide 10 shown in FIG. 5 has two hollow frustoconicalportions 12 and 14 joined by a substantially flat support member 16 andribs 18 and 20. The frustoconical portions 12 and 14 have walls and 14aof substantially even thickness throughout. The smaller ends of theportions 12 and 14 have openings 22 and 24 which are sized anddimensioned to provide a relatively tight fit with a suitable elongatedfastener (e.g., screw or bolt). While the holes 22 and 24 may beoversized to a certain degree and still function properly, it is usuallydesirable to keep the diameter or cross section of the holes 22 and 24substantially equal to the diameter or crosssectional area of thefastener. In applications where the portions of the fasteners extendingbeyond the guide member I0 are long (e.g., about four times the heightof the portions 12 and 14) a close fit with the fasteners at openings 22and 24 will insure that there are minimal alignment difficulties at theextended ends of the fasteners. The openings 26 and 28 are sized anddimensioned to have diameters or cross-sectional areas larger than thediameters or cross-sectional areas of the fastener to allow for easyinsertion (e.g., about twice the crosssectional area). When face platesor rosettes are utilized the openings 26 and 28 are generally sized tobe slightly larger than the holes or openings in such face plates orrosettes. The supporting portion 16 and ribs 18 and 20 serve to properlyspace the frustoconical portions I2 and I4 and to make a rigid integralunit. The guide 10 in FIG. 5 is shown with a hole 30 which will beutilized with a lock shaft in mechanically mounting the guide on a lockrosette as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Other methods or techniques formounting the guide will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Forexample, an adhesive may be used, the guide could be mechanicallyattached by suitable fastening means such as screws or by pins usinginterference locking techniques. The guide 10 may be molded from asuitable plastic material such as delrin or nylon, for example. Also,the guide 10 could be die cast zinc or another suitable metal. Thematerials used and the technique for making the guide are not, per se,the subject matter of the present invention and are mentioned merely toillustrate some commercially feasible materials and techniques.

In FIGS. 1-4 the invented guide is used in a lock or latch assembly, theinstallation of which has long presented time consuming problems inachieving proper alignment. In FIG. I a typical latch assembly 32 isshown mounted on a door 34. The latch assembly 32 has a knob 36 androsettes 38 and 40. In FIG. 2 a portion of a latch mechanism 42 is shownfor purposes of illustrating a preferred scheme for mounting the guidemember 10 to a rosette 38.

The rosette 38, for example, contains two embossed screw head holes 380and 38b which may serve to locate and engage the guide and a hole 380for receiving a shaft of the latch. The edges of the embossed holes 38aand 38b fit inside the openings 26 and 28 of the guide 10 and thus serveto position the guide 10 on the rosette 38. After the guide 10 has beenproperly aligned on the rosette 38 it may be secured thereto by anyconventional means (e.g., mechanical or by adhesives).

The hole 30 in the guide 10 is positioned to align with the hole 380 inthe rosette 38. One method of securing the guide 10 to the rosette 38 isto utilize the integral shaft portions 44 and 46 of the latch mechanism42 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The shaft portion 44 has a considerably largerdiameter than shaft portion 46. Shaft portion 46 is sized to passthrough the openings 30 and 380 and is then secured by conventionalmeans (e.g., interference fit) to knob 36. The diameter of shaft portion44 is larger than that of the holes 30 and 380 and the portion 440serves to abut against the support member 16 around the hole 30 and tothereby secure the guide 10 to the rosette 38 between the knob 36 andthe shaft portion 44. If desired, a bowed washer (not shown) may be usedbetween the support member 16 and shaft 44 to insure a tighter fit.

After the guide 10 has been assembled to the rosette 38, two screws 48and 50 with suitably shaped heads 48a and 50a are inserted into themating embossed rosette holes 38a and 38b and through the frustoconicalportions 12 and 14 of guide 10. The rosette 38 containing the guide 10and screws 48 and 50 is then positioned over the door opening 52.Generally, the hole 52 is sized so that the walls of the hole 52 are inpartial engagement with part of the outside walls of the frustoconicalmembers 12 and 14 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, thus serving to positionand align the entire rosette assembly. If desired, the screws 48 and 50may be inserted after the rosettes 38 and 40 have been positioned. Inany case the screws48 and 50 when inserted into rosette 38 and guide 10will be aligned to easily pass through the corresponding holes in therosette 40. The screws or bolts may be retained at their extended endsby conventional retaining means, such as nuts 54 and 56.

FIG. 4 illustrates in detail how the frustoconical portions of the guide10 serve to guide and position the screws inserted therein. For example,in FIG. 4 the screw 50 is shown in phanton entering the guide portion 14at an angle. However, as the screw 50 continues through the guide it isstraightened by the slope of the frustoconical portion until the end ofthe screw finds the properly sized opening 24 and passes through it.Once the leading end of the screw passes through the opening 24 thelongitudinal axis of the screw is precisely aligned. The screw 50 maythen extend over a long space and still hold its alignment asillustrated in FIG. 2, for example. The time previously lost inmanipulating and aligning screws for proper mating is drasticallyreduced.

Thus, by utilizing a relatively simple and inexpensive guide member theproblem of aligning fasteners to mate with opposed parts which areseparated by a substantial distance is easily solved. The fasteners areheld in a straight position and do not drop out of alignment. The guidemay be used on a latch rosette, as described in detail above, or in anyother fastening application where the same type of alignment problemsexist. It should be understood that the invention is not limited to thenumber of hollow elongated guide or frustoconical portions or theconfiguration described in the preferred embodiment since it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that various other configurationsand numbers of hollow elongated guide or frustoconical portions can beused without departing from the teachings and scope of this invention.

We claim:

1. In a combination, a device for guiding and aligning elongatedfastening means extending through a substantial distance in an openingand a face plate comprising:

a. a face plate having at least one hole therein adapted for receivingan elongated fastening means;

b. a guide means mounted on one side of said face plate having at leastone hollow elongated guide member of shorter length than said fasteningmeans and a supporting means;

c. said elongated guide member having at one end thereof a first openingand on the other end thereof a second opening of smaller cross sectionthan said first opening, said first opening being positioned adjacent toand in substantial alignment with the hole in said face plate, saidfirst opening having a cross section substantially larger than the crosssection of said fastening means, said second opening having a crosssection substantially identical to that of said fastening means toprovide a relatively tight engagement between said fastening means andsaid second opening; and,

said supporting means being integral with said elongated guide memberand secured to said face plate.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said elongated guide member has alength and configuration adapted to allow said guide member to partiallyengage the walls of said opening thereby determining the position andalignment of the guide and face place combination with respect to saidopening.

3. The combination of claim 1 in which said face plate is a rosettehaving a plurality of holes for fastening means therein.

4. The combination of claim 1 in which said guide means is secured tosaid face plate by mechanical fastening means.

5. The combination of claim 1 in which said guide means is secured tosaid face plate by an adhesive.

6. The combination of claim 3 in which said rosette has at least twospaced embossed holes for fastening means and said guide means containsat least two elongated guide members spaced on centerline correspondingto the centerline of the embossed holes on said rosette; whereby theedges of said embossed holes serve to engage and position said guidemeans.

7. The combination of claim 6 in which said elongated guide members arejoined by said supporting means.

8. The combination of claim 7 in which said supporting means is arelatively flat member having rib means for providing rigidity.

9. In combination a device for guiding and aligning elongated fasteningmeans extending through a substantial distance in an opening and arosette comprising:

a. a rosette having a given number of holes therein adapted forreceiving a plurality of elongated fastening means;

b. a guide means mounted on one side of said rosette having a givennumber of hollow frustoconical members of shorter length than saidfastening means and a supporting means, the number of frustoconicalmembers being equal to the number of holes in said rosette for receivingfastening means;

c. each of said frustoconical members having at one end thereof a firstopening and at the other end a second opening of smaller cross sectionthan said first opening, each of said first openings being positionedadjacent to and in substantial alignment with a hole in said rosette,each of said first openings having a cross section substantially largerthan the cross section of said fastening means, each of said secondopenings having a cross section substantially identical to that of saidfastening means to provide a relatively tight engagement between saidfastening means and said second openings; and,

d. said supporting means being integral with said frustoconical membersand secured to said rosette.

10. The combination of claim 9 in which the frustoconical members havewalls of substantially even thickness.

ll. The combination of claim 9 in which said guide means is secured tosaid rosette by mechanical fastening means.

12. The combination of claim 9 in which said guide means is secured tosaid rosette by an adhesive.

13. The combination of claim 12 in which said frustoconical members arejoined by said supporting means.

14. The combination of claim 13 in which said supporting means is arelatively fiat member having rib means for providing ridigity.

15. The device of claim 9 in which said frustoconical members have alength and configuration adapted to allow said guide means to partiallyengage the walls of said opening thereby determining the position andalignment of the guide and rosette combination with respect to saidopening.

1. In a combination, a device for guiding and aligning elongatedfastening means extending through a substantial distance in an openingand a face plate comprising: a. a face plate having at least one holetherein adapted for receiving an elongated fastening means; b. a guidemeans mounted on one side of said face plate having at least one hollowelongated guide member of shorter length than said fastening means and asupporting means; c. said elongated guide member having at one endthereof a first opening and on the other end thereof a second opening ofsmaller cross section than said first opening, said first opening beingpositioned adjacent to and in substantial alignment with the hole insaid face plate, said first opening having a cross section substantiallylarger than the cross section of said fastening means, said secondopening having a cross section substantially identical to that of saidfastening means to provide a relatively tight engagement between saidfastening means and said second opening; and, d. said supporting meansbeing integral with said elongated guide member and secured to said faceplate.
 2. The device of claim 1 in which said elongated guide member hasa length and configuration adapted to allow said guide member topartially engage the walls of said opening thereby determining theposition and alignment of the guide and face place combination withrespect to said opening.
 3. The combination of claim 1 in which saidface plate is a rosette having a plurality of holes for fastening meanstherein.
 4. The combination of claim 1 in which said guide means issecured to said face plate by mechanical fastening means.
 5. Thecombination of claim 1 in which said guide means is secured to said faceplate by an adhesive.
 6. The combination of claim 3 in which saidrosette has at least two spaced embossed holes for fastening means andsaid guide means contains at least two elongated guide members spaced oncenterline corresponding to the centerline of the embossed holes on saidrosette; whereby the edges of said embossed holes serve to engage andposition said guide means.
 7. The combination of claim 6 in which saidelongated guide members are joined by said supporting means.
 8. Thecombination of claim 7 in which said supporting means is a relativelyflat member having rib means for providing rigidity.
 9. In combination adevice for guiding and aligning elongated fastening means extendingthrough a substantial distance in an opening and a rosette comprising:a. a rosette having a given number of holes therein adapted forreceiving a plurality of elongated fastening means; b. a guide meansmounted on one side of said rosette having a given number of hollowfrustoconical members of shorter length than said fastening means and asupporting means, the number of frustoconical members being equal to thenumber of holes in said rosette for receiving fastening means; c. eachof said frUstoconical members having at one end thereof a first openingand at the other end a second opening of smaller cross section than saidfirst opening, each of said first openings being positioned adjacent toand in substantial alignment with a hole in said rosette, each of saidfirst openings having a cross section substantially larger than thecross section of said fastening means, each of said second openingshaving a cross section substantially identical to that of said fasteningmeans to provide a relatively tight engagement between said fasteningmeans and said second openings; and, d. said supporting means beingintegral with said frustoconical members and secured to said rosette.10. The combination of claim 9 in which the frustoconical members havewalls of substantially even thickness.
 11. The combination of claim 9 inwhich said guide means is secured to said rosette by mechanicalfastening means.
 12. The combination of claim 9 in which said guidemeans is secured to said rosette by an adhesive.
 13. The combination ofclaim 12 in which said frustoconical members are joined by saidsupporting means.
 14. The combination of claim 13 in which saidsupporting means is a relatively flat member having rib means forproviding ridigity.
 15. The device of claim 9 in which saidfrustoconical members have a length and configuration adapted to allowsaid guide means to partially engage the walls of said opening therebydetermining the position and alignment of the guide and rosettecombination with respect to said opening.